CN113574333B

CN113574333B - Expansion valve

Info

Publication number: CN113574333B
Application number: CN202080023716.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G·京策尔; T·霍尔策尔; B·J·雷帕西; J·施莱格尔
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2019-03-24
Filing date: 2020-03-24
Publication date: 2023-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-24
Also published as: WO2020193538A1; EP3948109B1; CN113574333A; EP3948109A1; US20220170676A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an expansion valve (10) for controlling a fluid flow, comprising a valve element housing (12) and at least one valve element (16) movably arranged in the valve element housing (12), and an actuator housing (14) in which an electric drive of the expansion valve (10) is arranged, wherein the valve element housing (12) is essentially at least partially made of metal, in particular aluminum, and wherein the actuator housing (14) is essentially at least partially made of plastic, and wherein the actuator housing (14) is fastened to the valve element housing (12) by means of at least one connecting element (40). It is proposed that the connecting element (40) is configured at least in part as a latching element and/or as a clamping element.

Description

Expansion valve

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an expansion valve having the features of the independent claim.

Background

It is known in expansion valves to mount an actuator housing on a valve device housing by means of a threaded connection. However, such connections suffer from a number of limitations caused by the structural space.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to an expansion valve for controlling a fluid flow, comprising a valve element housing and at least one valve element movably arranged therein, and an actuator housing in which an electric drive of the expansion valve is arranged, wherein the valve element housing is essentially at least partially made of metal, in particular aluminum, and wherein the actuator housing is essentially at least partially made of plastic, and wherein the actuator housing is fixed to the valve element housing by means of at least one connecting element. It is proposed that the connecting element is at least partially embodied as a latching element and, in addition or as an alternative, as a clamping element.

The expansion valve according to the invention, which has the features of the independent claim, has the advantage that a simple and cost-effective connection between the actuator housing and the valve element housing can be provided. The actuator housing can be mounted particularly easily on the valve device housing by means of the connecting element according to the invention. Furthermore, the necessary space requirements for the location of the connection can be reduced. The connecting element according to the invention can be used to connect different expansion valve variants without additional adjustment. The connecting element according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to provide a simple and reliable connection between two components of different materials.

In expansion valves of the type referred to here, the fluid is present at least partially in the gaseous phase in the flow-through region of the valve device housing, with high pressures in the range between 1 and 30 bar and for short periods of time up to 100 bar being prevailing. Due to these thermodynamic boundary conditions, such valve element blocks are composed of metal, preferably aluminum or aluminum alloys. However, it is also conceivable for at least one housing part of the valve element housing to have a plastic body which then has a diffusion-preventing barrier layer comprising metal. Such a valve device housing can be manufactured easily and cost effectively compared to aluminum ingot housings. At the same time, the tightness of the expansion valve according to the invention can be used in a fluid circuit in which the fluid is at least partially present in the gaseous phase. An electrical drive is arranged in the actuator housing, which is subject to further boundary conditions in terms of tightness and functionality, so that the actuator housing is at least partially made of plastic.

The fluid of the type referred to herein is a heat medium that circulates inside a fluid circuit. In particular, the fluid is a natural coolant, such as, for example, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, ammonia, propane, butane, propylene, water or a synthetic coolant, such as, for example, chlorofluorocarbon or a partially halogenated fluorocarbon.

Advantageous developments and improvements of the individual features result from the measures recited in the dependent claims.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the connecting element has at least one first section and at least one second section, wherein the first section engages at least partially into the valve device housing, and wherein the second section engages at least partially with the actuator housing, and wherein the second section has christmas tree-shaped teeth on its outer circumference.

In the context of the present invention, a "christmas tree tooth" can refer to the outer contour of the connecting element, which has a plurality of teeth. The teeth or projections of the christmas tree-shaped teeth advantageously lock or latch with receptacles on the actuator housing, so that a particularly simple and reliable connection of the housing can be provided. Since the actuator housing is made of plastic, it deforms when pushed into the teeth of the christmas tree, so that a loss-proof connection can be provided.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the first section of the connecting element is formed elastically in the circumferential direction. Such a connecting element which is elastic in the circumferential direction can be introduced into the valve device housing particularly easily under prestress, so that it is held in the housing by the restoring force. A particularly simple and robust solution can be provided by: the first section is configured as an at least partially slotted sleeve. According to an advantageous development of the invention, the second section extends substantially in the axial direction, wherein the second section is formed substantially flat and has an insertion bevel at its free end facing away from the first section. Such an insertion bevel makes it possible to introduce the second section into the actuator housing particularly easily. Within the scope of the invention, "the axial direction of such an expansion valve" can refer in particular to the direction of extension of a valve stem on which the valve device is arranged.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the connecting element encloses the valve device housing and the actuator housing in the axial direction. Preferably, the connecting element is embodied here as a clip element. By means of such a clip element which is arranged under prestress, a particularly simple and space-saving connection between the actuator housing and the valve device housing can be provided.

A particularly simple and space-saving connection element can be provided in particular by: the connecting element is essentially U-shaped and has at least two arms, wherein the arms are arranged essentially parallel to one another. The arms of the connecting element preferably also each have a free end, wherein a clamping projection is arranged on the free end of the connecting element. The clamping projections can engage in corresponding undercuts which are arranged on the valve device housing and which are alternatively or additionally also arranged on the actuator housing in the mounted state.

A particularly cost-effective connecting element can be provided in particular by: the connecting element is in particular embodied as a punched part.

Drawings

Embodiments of expansion valves or connecting elements are shown in the drawings and are explained in detail in the following description.

Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of an expansion valve according to a first embodiment,

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a connecting element configured as a clip element,

figure 3 shows a perspective view of a valve device housing and a connecting element arranged on the valve device housing,

fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a connecting element according to the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Detailed Description

In different embodiments, identical components are given the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an expansion valve 10 in an exploded view. As can be seen clearly in fig. 1, the expansion valve 10 has an actuator housing 14 and a valve device housing 12. At least one valve element 16 is arranged inside the valve element housing 12. The valve element 16 is constructed as a movable, in particular rotatable, structure relative to the valve element housing 12. The first valve element housing 12 furthermore has a flow region through which the fluid flows. A fluid of the kind referred to herein is a heat carrier medium that circulates inside a fluid circuit. In particular, the fluid is a natural coolant, such as, for example, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, ammonia, propane, butane, propylene, water or a synthetic coolant, such as, for example, chlorofluorocarbon or a partially halogenated fluorocarbon.

The valve device housing 12 has at least two first openings 20, 22 that form an inlet or outlet for fluid into the valve device housing 12. Due to the selected view, only one of the two first openings 20, 22 can be seen in fig. 1. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1, the two openings 20, 22 are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction 18 of the expansion valve 10 inside the valve device housing 12. The valve element housing 10 can be designed in particular as a valve element block, which is designed essentially as a gas-tight structure for the thermodynamic conditions prevailing in the expansion valve 10.

In the expansion valve 10 of the type referred to here, the fluid is present at least partially in the gaseous phase in the flow-through region of the valve element housing 12, with high pressures in the range of 1 to 30 bar and for short times up to 100 bar being prevailing. Due to these thermodynamic boundary conditions, such valve element blocks 12 are composed of metal, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy. However, it is also conceivable for at least one housing part of the valve element housing 12 to have a plastic body which then has a diffusion-preventing barrier layer comprising metal. Such a valve device housing 12 can be manufactured easily and cost effectively compared to aluminum ingot housings. At the same time, the tightness of the expansion valve 10 according to the invention can be used in a fluid circuit in which the fluid is at least partially present in the gaseous phase.

As can be seen in fig. 1, an actuator housing 14 is arranged on the valve device housing 12. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1, the actuator housing 14 has two

actuator housing parts

24, 26, inside which an electric drive (not shown here) is arranged. Such an electric drive can be configured in particular as a stepper motor, a brushless motor or a brush motor. The actuator housing 14 is substantially at least partially constructed of plastic. In particular, the actuator housing 14 is produced by means of injection molding.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in addition to the electric drive, a transmission is arranged inside the actuator housing 14, which transmission transmits the movement of the electric drive to the respective valve rod 30. Furthermore, motor electronics for actuating the electric drive are arranged in the actuator housing 14. On this valve stem 30 a corresponding valve means is arranged. The valve stem 30 extends through an opening 32 of the valve device housing 12 and substantially along the axial direction 18.

In order to seal the flow-through region of the fluid, a housing element 34, which is formed as a cover, is arranged on the second opening 32. The housing element 34 has a bore hole concentric with respect to the axial direction 18, through which the valve stem 30 protrudes into the valve device housing 12.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the actuator housing 14 is fastened to the valve device housing 14 by means of at least one connecting element 40, which is configured at least in part as a latching element and, in addition or as an alternative, as a clamping element. Fig. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of such a latching element or catch element, respectively.

As can be seen in fig. 1, according to the embodiment of the invention shown here, the connecting element 40 encloses the valve device housing 12 and the actuator housing 14 in the axial direction 18 and is configured as a clip element. The clip element 40 has a clamping projection 44 at its free end 42b and a further clamping projection 45 is formed by an arcuate section 60. Preferably, the arcuate segment is a portion of the free end 42a of the arm 58, among other things. The clamping

projections

44, 45 engage in corresponding undercuts 46, 47 of the valve device housing 12 or the actuator housing 14.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1, the undercut 46 of the valve element housing 12 is formed as a recess in the valve element housing 12 extending substantially in the radial direction. The side 48 of the undercut 46 facing the actuator housing 14 preferably extends substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction 18. This side 48 acts as an axial stop for the connecting element 40 in the installed state.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1, at least one projection 50 extending in the radial direction is arranged on the actuator housing 14, on which projection the undercut 47 of the actuator housing 14 is at least partially formed. In the mounting of the connecting element 40, the first clamping projection 44 is usually first engaged in a recess 46 of the valve device housing 12, and the second clamping projection 45 is then pushed into a corresponding recess 47 of the actuator housing 14. In order to facilitate the pushing or pressing of the second clamping projection 45 into the undercut 47 on the actuator housing 14, the projection 50 of the actuator housing 14 preferably has a lead-in chamfer 52.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1, the expansion valve 10 has two connecting elements 40, which are each arranged on opposite sides of the expansion valve 10. However, the number and arrangement of the connecting elements 40 can of course vary.

The connecting element 40 of fig. 1 is shown enlarged in fig. 2. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 2, the clip element 40 is essentially u-shaped, having a first intermediate section 56 and

limbs

58, 59, which are arranged on both sides of the intermediate section 56 and form the free ends 42a, b of the connecting element 40. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 2, the

arms

58, 59 of the clip element 40 are arranged substantially parallel to one another and extend substantially in the radial direction in the installed state. According to the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the intermediate section 56 of the clip element 40 is at least partially planar and extends substantially in the axial direction 18 in the installed state.

The clip element 40 surrounds with its

limbs

58, 59 the edge region between the valve element housing 12 and the actuator housing 14 which meet one another. As already explained, the clip element has clamping

projections

44, 45 which, in the installed state, engage in corresponding undercuts 46, 47 on the valve device housing 12 or the actuator housing 14. The clamping projection 45 which engages in the actuator housing 14 in the mounted state is bent at an acute angle β to the direction of extension of the associated arm 58. The clamping projection 45 expediently has an arcuate section 60 extending in the axial direction 18, which is slid by the insertion bevel 52 before it engages in the corresponding undercut 47 during installation. The limb 59 which engages into the valve element housing 12 in the installed state is essentially configured as an arc, wherein the free end 42b of the arc limb 59 rests against the side wall 48 of the undercut 46 of the valve element housing 12 in the installed state. In this way, a sufficient prestress can be applied to the clip element 40 during installation.

The connecting element 40 shown in fig. 2 is formed in one piece. Such a connecting element 40 can be manufactured particularly easily by means of a stamping method.

The free end 42b of the clamping element 40 forms a clamping projection 44.

According to an advantageous development, the clip element 40 in the region 49 has a curvature over its width. A bend is optionally also formed in the middle section 56 in the width region. The optional bends in this region 49 are preferably opposite to the optional bends in this region 56.

The end sides 51 of the free ends 42a, b have edges and/or corners, which are preferably not rounded or bent. On the end face 51, the free ends 42a, b are formed with edges and/or corners. No taper is formed toward the free ends 42a, b. The gripping tab 44 and the free end 42b have no width taper. The clamping projection 44 and the free end 42b have edges and/or corners. The gripping tab 44 and the free end 42b preferably have no rounded portions.

The end sides 51 of the free ends 42a, b are rectangular in shape. Preferably, the edge is formed with an angle and without rounding.

The width of the clip element 40 is preferably substantially equal throughout its length.

According to an advantageous development, the end face 51 of the free end 42b, which forms the clamping projection 44, has a concave course over the width. The two opposite edges of the end face 51 of the free end portion 42b, which do not damage the intermediate section 56, extend beyond the intermediate portion therebetween in the axial direction. Preferably, in the installed state, the edge first engages in the undercut 46. This prevents, for example, the clamping element 40 from moving along the undercut 46 relative to the actuator housing 14.

Preferably, the intermediate section 56 has no bends in the axial direction.

The free end 42b forms a clamping projection 44. The other clamping projection 45 is formed by the arm 58 or the other free end 42a, in particular the arcuate segment 60.

The normal vector of the end face 51 of the free end 42b is directed substantially in the axial direction 18.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a connecting element 40, respectively. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the valve device housing 12 of the expansion valve 10. As can be seen clearly in fig. 3, the valve block has at least two first openings 20, 22 through which fluid can flow in or out. In addition, the valve device housing 12 has a second opening 32 that is penetrated by the valve stem 30. The valve device housing 12 has a substantially planar abutment surface 35, on which abutment surface 35 the actuator housing 14 is arranged in the mounted state.

As can be seen clearly in fig. 3, the connecting element 40 has at least one first section 70 and a second section 72 for connecting the valve device housing 12 to the actuator housing 14. The first section 70 engages at least partially into a corresponding bore 80 of the valve device housing 12. The second section 72 has christmas tree-shaped teeth 74 on its outer circumferential surface. As can be seen clearly in fig. 2, the second section 72 of the connecting element 40 extends substantially along the axial direction 18. The first section 70 of the connecting element 40 is formed elastically in the circumferential direction and is held in the valve device housing 12 by its elasticity and friction. When the actuator housing 14 is mounted, the second section 72 engages with its christmas tree-shaped teeth 74 in the actuator housing 14 and snaps or locks in place, whereby a secure connection between the valve device housing 12 and the actuator housing 14 can be provided.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 3, two connecting elements 40 are provided for connecting the actuator housing 14 to the valve device housing 12, wherein the two connecting elements 40 are respectively arranged in a manner twisted 45 ° relative to one another in the circumferential direction.

However, the number and arrangement of the connecting elements 40 can of course vary.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of a connecting element according to the embodiment shown in fig. 3. As can be seen clearly in fig. 4, the connecting element 40 has a first section 70 and a second section 72. The connecting element 40 extends substantially along the axial direction 18. In the installed state, the first section 70 engages at least partially into the valve device housing 12, and the second section 72 latches with its christmas tree-shaped teeth 74 arranged on the outer circumferential surface with the actuator housing 14. As already mentioned, the first section 70 is formed elastically in the circumferential direction. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 4, the second section 70 is designed as a slotted sleeve for this purpose.

As can be seen in fig. 4, both the slit 88 and the through opening 90 of the slotted sleeve 70 extend substantially in the axial direction 18. During installation, the slotted sleeve 70 is compressed and inserted into a bore 80 of the valve element housing 12 extending in the axial direction 18. Due to the restoring force of the resilient sleeve, the sleeve is pressed against the borehole wall of the valve device housing 12 and is held there.

As can be seen clearly in fig. 4, the second section 72 is arranged on the end face 92 of the sleeve 70. The second section 72 is preferably located radially opposite the gap 88. The second section 72 extends substantially in the axial direction 18 and is formed substantially flat. The second section has christmas tree-shaped teeth 74 on its outer circumferential surface. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 4, the teeth of the christmas tree are formed by three teeth 94 arranged on both sides of the second section. The tooth 94 preferably decreases in tooth size here with increasing spacing from the first section 70. As can be seen clearly in fig. 4, the second section 72 has an insertion bevel 96 at its free end facing away from the first section, which facilitates the mounting of the actuator housing 14 on the valve device housing 12. The connecting element 40 shown in fig. 4 is formed in one piece. Such a connecting element 40 can be manufactured particularly easily by means of a stamping method.

Claims

1. Expansion valve (10) for controlling a fluid flow, having a valve element housing (12) and at least one valve element (16) movably arranged in the valve element housing (12) and having an actuator housing (14) in which an electric drive of the expansion valve (10) is arranged, wherein the valve element housing (12) is at least partially formed from metal or at least partially from a plastic body having a diffusion-preventing barrier layer comprising metal, and wherein the actuator housing (14) is at least partially formed from plastic, and wherein the actuator housing (14) is fixed to the valve element housing (12) by means of at least one connecting element (40), characterized in that the connecting element (40) is at least partially configured as a latching element and/or a clamping element, the connecting element (40) is essentially U-shaped and has at least two limbs (58, 59), wherein the limbs (58, 59) are arranged essentially parallel to one another, and the connecting elements (40) have free ends (42 a, 45 b) at which the free ends (42 a, 45 b) of the connecting elements (42 b, 45 b), respectively, are arranged.

2. The expansion valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element (40) has at least one first section (70) and a second section (72), wherein the first section (70) is at least partially fitted into the valve device housing (12), and wherein the second section (72) is at least partially latched with the actuator housing (14), and wherein the second section (72) has christmas tree-shaped teeth (74) on its outer circumferential surface.

3. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first section (70) of the connecting element (40) is elastically configured in the circumferential direction.

4. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the second section (72) extends substantially in the axial direction (18), wherein the second section (72) is substantially planar and has an insertion bevel (96) at its free end facing away from the first section (70).

5. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (40) encloses the valve device housing (12) and the actuator housing (14) in the axial direction (18).

6. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that undercuts (46, 47) are arranged on the valve device housing (12) and/or the actuator housing (14), into which undercuts the respective clamping projections (44, 45) of the connecting element (40) engage.

7. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (40) is constructed in one piece.

8. Expansion valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve means housing (12) has at least two first openings (20, 22), wherein the valve means (16) is movably arranged inside the valve means housing (12) and is releasable and can change the fluid flow through the first openings (20, 22) depending on the position of the valve means (16) relative to the first openings (20, 22).

9. The expansion valve (10) of claim 1, wherein the valve device housing (12) is at least partially composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

10. An expansion valve (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first section (70) of the connecting element (40) is elastically configured in the circumferential direction as an at least partially slotted sleeve.

11. The expansion valve (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting element (40) is configured as a clip element.

12. The expansion valve (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the connecting element (40) is integrally formed as a punch.